Brown-throated Martin

Afrikaans name: Afrikaanse oewerswael

Brown-throated Martin

Photo © Steven Herbert

Riparia paludicola

As far as Swallows and Martins go the Brown-throated Martin is one of the smaller ones found in South Africa. It is around 12 cm in length.

Male and female look the same. It is similar to the Rock Martin but it has a notch in its tail.

Brown-throated Martins are normally found near rivers, dams and lakes. They are normally seen in small flocks but occasionally they occur in flocks of a few hundred birds.

Their food consists entirely of insect caught in flight.

These Martins nest in burrows which they line with feathers and grass. They normally lay 3 eggs.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	509	Cheimonornis paludicola paludicola
2nd	509	Riparia paludicola
3rd	509	Riparia paludicola
4th	509	Riparia paludicola
5th	533	Riparia paludicola
6th	533	Riparia paludicola
7th	593	Riparia paludicola

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	509	Cape Sand-martin
2nd	509	African Sand Martin
3rd	509	African Sand Martin
4th	509	African Sand Martin
5th	533	Brownthroated Martin
6th	533	Brownthroated Martin
7th	593	Brown-throated Martin

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
7th	586	Gewone Swartmees
1st	509	Kaapse-oewerswawel
2nd	509	Afrikaanse Oewerswawel
3rd	509	Afrikaanse Oewerswael
4th	509	Afrikaanse Oewerswael
5th	533	Afrikaanse Oewerswael
6th	533	Afrikaanse Oewerswael
7th	593	Afrikaanse Oewerswael

References and further reading

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 210

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 123

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 31

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 300

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 286

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 461

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 359

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 467

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 270

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 348

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 236

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 236

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 232

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 146

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 210

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 174

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 85

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 175

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 53

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 68

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 153

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 191

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 82

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 82

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 205

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List of South African Birds